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What ruined the "arcade generation"?
RayB:
Let's also not forget development costs. The price tag of machines haven't increased THAT much, but the development costs are now at a point where you can't recoup the investment. Think about it, a game like Galaga had maybe 1 or 2 developers, and then add the cost of hardware engineers.
Today, with all the high-end graphics, advanced 3D rendering etc, the hardware costs millions, and the game development costs millions.
Matthew Anderson:
I think it is a huge combination of things... console syndrome, kids wanting to do different things then their elders.
I think big problem is the marketers. Take a look at q*bert, dig dug, puckman, crazy climber, zoo keeper, kangaroo or pooyan? What do these games have in common?
They are fsucking weird! Oh and also they are works of twisted art! No marketer in their right mind would approve these games. They got made because no one knew what they were doing and just tried for a fun game.
Also in the early days (i'm 35) it was just fun watching the screen react to my input. It was only later that I got sophisticated enough to want a more adult experience. I think the marketers embraced familiarity and mediocrity so that is what we have.
mahuti:
--- Quote from: shawnzilla on February 28, 2005, 07:47:59 am ---I also believe that the death of many indoor malls across the country have contributed to the fall of arcades. Here in Kansas City, there used to be several thriving malls, each with an arcade (one of them had two!). But, as each mall started sliding downhill, the arcades seemed to be one of the first tenants to go. What's strange is that there is one mall in my area that has survived and is thriving, but their arcade that had been open since I was very young (A Fun Factory), closed their doors a couple of months ago...it pissed me off the other day when I walked by and noticed that in its place will be a Pacific Sunwear store.
Oh well, there is a local Taco Via that still has the same galaga that I threw my money into twenty+ years ago. :-)
--- End quote ---
That's a shame about Fun Factory. I think I spent $20 for me and a friend to play Rampage all night one time. I remember too that Bannister Mall used to have an arcade. A pretty big one. That mall is so sad now. When I was a kid it was a cool place to go, now it's just on a long slide downhill with no end in sight. My favorite was the arcade at Camelot. I'm guessing they still have one, but it's been about 10 years since I was last there.
shawnzilla:
I think it was a Fun Factory at Bannister Mall too. I had always liked the Aladdin's Castle at Ward Parkway. Metcalf South had two arcades, I remember one of them had all of the import games.
Where is Camelot? I don't seem to remember that place.
--- Quote from: mahuti on February 28, 2005, 11:32:36 am ---
--- Quote from: shawnzilla on February 28, 2005, 07:47:59 am ---I also believe that the death of many indoor malls across the country have contributed to the fall of arcades. Here in Kansas City, there used to be several thriving malls, each with an arcade (one of them had two!). But, as each mall started sliding downhill, the arcades seemed to be one of the first tenants to go. What's strange is that there is one mall in my area that has survived and is thriving, but their arcade that had been open since I was very young (A Fun Factory), closed their doors a couple of months ago...it pissed me off the other day when I walked by and noticed that in its place will be a Pacific Sunwear store.
Oh well, there is a local Taco Via that still has the same galaga that I threw my money into twenty+ years ago. :-)
--- End quote ---
That's a shame about Fun Factory. I think I spent $20 for me and a friend to play Rampage all night one time. I remember too that Bannister Mall used to have an arcade. A pretty big one. That mall is so sad now. When I was a kid it was a cool place to go, now it's just on a long slide downhill with no end in sight. My favorite was the arcade at Camelot. I'm guessing they still have one, but it's been about 10 years since I was last there.
--- End quote ---
Chris:
I lost a long post on this, but it came down to redemption machines and consoles. What saves games nowadays are controls you can't get at home: good arcade steering wheels, trackballs, DDR pads, etc. (Yes, you can get home versions of these, but they're not the same as an arcade.) As a kid, most of my favorite games had yokes, trackballs, flight sticks, or some other type of custom controls that were more immersive than an 8-way joystick.
--Chris